What is it about boxed macaroni and cheese? No matter how many gourmet, grown-up macaroni and cheeses I’ve eaten, cooked, and enjoyed, I still like the boxed kind too. I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow this stuff.

I’ve had some cottage cheese sitting in my fridge I’ve been trying to get rid of, so I went searching for recipes when I came across a healthier boxed macaroni and cheese on A Duck’s Oven. The recipe uses cottage cheese as a substitute for the margarine and milk.

With the substitution, you eliminate 304 calories and 44.4 grams of fat from the box.
The taste is lighter than the regular version and you do feel like you’re eating a healthier version, though it still tastes good. I was hoping the cottage cheese would somehow dissolve, but the chunks still remain which isn’t so pretty to look at. I wasn’t too impressed when I first had it but after doing the math, I would gladly do the lighter recipe again next time I have a hankering for boxed macaroni and cheese.

8 Responses to “Healthier Macaroni and Cheese”

lorri — December 10, 2012 at 7:41 am

Hmmmm – the jury is out on this one. I really like cottage cheese so, I might just like this. Rarely do I buy a boxed mac and cheese … but yes, sometimes ya feel like a throw back to high school days ; – )

I’d also give it a good shake of hot sauce, too.

Kirbie replied: — December 10th, 2012 @ 9:45 am

I don’t usually buy the boxed ones either. I usually make ones from scratch. But DH buys the boxed ones. And I always have some of his- I can’t resist! haha. But yeah, you might like this one. The cottage cheese does make it taste creamier and less fake cheese-ish.

Cait — December 10, 2012 at 2:19 pm

What if you tried pureeing the cottage cheese a bit before adding? It would make it smoother and not so noticeable. I definitely nee to try this soon! Thanks for the idea!

Kirbie replied: — December 10th, 2012 @ 3:59 pm

I actually thought about that after when I realized the cottage cheese chunks were not going anywhere. I’ll try that next time!

smt — December 13, 2012 at 8:12 am

Growing up we would use ’2 caps’ of skim milk and maybe tsp of margarine. I’ve used the boxed directions as it turns out runny. In college I would just use a bit of the pasta water to thin the dry cheese. I’ll try this cottage cheese addition next time though. Thx.

Kirbie replied: — December 13th, 2012 @ 9:36 am

Hmm, mine hasn’t turn out runny using the boxed directions. But anyhow, give this a try. It’s creamy, not runny. I liked it though it did taste a bit healthier than the original.

Grace — December 18, 2012 at 9:31 am

one suggestion that you might also want to try – when i get a craving for boxed macaroni and cheese, i use greek yogurt. it makes things thicker and sort of tangy, which i suppose would be like cottage cheese, but without as many lumps.

Kirbie replied: — December 18th, 2012 @ 9:33 am

Oh, I was actually thinking of trying that next time! I was thinking it might be similar and without the lumps. I’m also going to try pureeing the cottage cheese too.